Chris Robshaw fears more talented English players could head overseas

Chris Robshaw has warned that English rugbyā€™s latest civil war could drive a host of top talent overseas.

The former England captain will swap boyhood club Harlequins for San Diego Legion in January, taking up a two-year adventure in Major League Rugby.

Premiership Rugby, club bosses and players are all at loggerheads amid a financial crisis caused by the coronavirus shutdown.

Northampton Saints v Harlequins – Gallagher Premiership – Franklins Gardens
Northampton Saints v Harlequins ā€“ Gallagher Premiership ā€“ Franklins Gardens

And Robshaw admitted the coronavirus fallout could see increasing numbers of frontline stars looking to head abroad.

Asked if more English players could start heading overseas, the 34-year-old said: ā€œI definitely think that will open everything up.

ā€œOf course, for me, England was a massive pull. I wanted to play for my country so I wanted to stay here and play for as long as I could for England.

ā€œSince not being involved, that has made looking elsewhere and having another life experience a bit easier.

ā€œIā€™m pretty pleased Iā€™m going Stateside thatā€™s all I can say!ā€ said Robshaw.

ā€œIā€™m one of the lucky ones, thereā€™s a lot of people at clubs who wonā€™t get the chance to wear their club shirts again.

ā€œBecause my season where Iā€™m going next wonā€™t start until January that gives me a window.

ā€œBut of course if Iā€™d gone to France or Japan I might not have had that little bit of closure.

ā€œEven though there wonā€™t be crowds there, itā€™s allowing me that chance to finish that chapter of my life.ā€

Global rugby stands at yet another crossroads, just 25 years into the sportā€™s professional life span.

The world game is closer than ever to an aligned global calendar, with summer rugby again on the agenda for the northern hemisphere.

While shifting the English season continues to polarise opinion even in the corridors of power, Robshaw believes it is now or never when it comes to a bold shift.

ā€œIn terms of summer rugby, I think we played 90 per cent of our games this year in the rain, which was wet and not particularly nice,ā€ said Robshaw.

ā€œI think if they are ever going to try stuff, they have got a window to try stuff now. If not, weā€™ll stick and continue with the current model.

ā€œFrom what I hear from grass-roots clubs, itā€™s more about that level, in terms of do they have the facilities to water the pitches?

ā€œIs there a health and safety issue, with kids running around on hard pitches?

ā€œOf course, in the Premiership and Championship, pitches can be watered and looked after, so they will be okay, but is there a knock-on effect?

ā€œAs I said, if they are ever going to do it, they have a good opportunity to do it now.ā€

Iā€™m thrilled to announce that Iā€™ll be joining the @SDLegion , in the @usmlr for the start of the 2020/2021 season.

Since its inception, the San Diego Legion have established themselves as one of the leading powerhouses of American Rugby.šŸ“ø @themediabunkerpic.twitter.com/wbJyDtNk2I

ā€” Chris Robshaw (@ChrisRobshaw) June 17, 2020

Robshaw has spent some 16 years at Quins, leading the London club to the Premiership title in 2012.

The combative back-row forward captained England 43 times, and will head to California next year with plenty of childhood dreams fulfilled.

ā€œIā€™m born and raised in London, itā€™s all Iā€™ve ever known and Iā€™ve only ever played for Harlequins,ā€ said Robshaw.

ā€œAnd Iā€™m sure at some point in the future weā€™ll come back this way. But while I can have the opportunity and while rugby can allow us that vehicle to try something new, why not?

ā€œFinance hasnā€™t come into it, Iā€™ve never made decisions in my career based on money. I wanted to try a new league, itā€™s new, itā€™s raw, thereā€™s a bit of excitement to the unknown quantity.

ā€œAnd itā€™s a completely different lifestyle. If I was going to leave one of the best cities in the world, southern California isnā€™t a bad place to go and live.

ā€œIā€™ve been told to get the surfboard ready, so it will be a little different from Wandsworth, and the hustle and bustle of the tube.ā€

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